Florencia Velez-Cortes is a rising senior in physics and chemistry at The Ohio State University. As part of INBT’s REU program, she spent her summer as a research intern the chemical and biomolecular engineering laboratory of professor David Gracias. REU stands for Research Experience for Undergraduates and is a National Science Foundation program hosted by the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology.

Florencia Velez-Cortes

Florencia worked constructing bi-layers out of DNA and acrylamide gel. The combination of the two materials could be used the make biocompatible devices, such as microgrippers that could be used in tether-less surgery, she explained.

“The best part about this project is that we are working on something complete new and biocompatible that could even be responsive to chemical signals,” she explained.

Also because the material is composed of DNA, “it could be responsive to certain DNA sequences.”

Florencia said the most challenging thing for her this summer was working with people who are engineers, when she is not. “It’s been a steep learning curve for me but everyone has been really helpful and receptive to working with someone who is outside of their field.”

She also noted that the pace of research in the Gracias lab is a lot faster than what she is used to in her previous laboratory experiences. She said having a mentor she could talk to was integral to her success.

For all press inquiries regarding INBT, its faculty and programs, contact Mary Spiro, mspiro@jhu.edu or 410-516-4802.

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